Related Links

Disaster spending eclipses $10 million locally

A tree split by Hurricane Isaac stands in late August in front of Elkins Hall on the Nicholls State University campus in Thibodaux.

Courier and Daily Comet file

Jeremy AlfordCapitol Correspondent

Published: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 5:50 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at 5:50 p.m.

BATON ROUGE — Nearly three months since Hurricane Isaac struck Louisiana's coastline, more than $365 million in state and federal disaster assistance has been provided in 55 parishes.

Facts

The costs of being coastal

In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, state and federal governments have spent more than $365 million on disaster assistance in Louisiana. The following is a breakdown of how much went to Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes.

LAFOURCHE BY THE NUMBERS- Residents registered for assistance with FEMA: 4,333.- Individual assistance grants: $3.7 million (Includes housing assistance of $3.3 million and “other” needs assistance of $427,168).- Public assistance obligations: $652,442.- U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans: $1.6 million.- Total assistance: More than $6 million.

TERREBONNE BY THE NUMBERS- Residents registered for assistance with FEMA: 3,797.- Individual assistance grants: $3.2 million (Include housing assistance of $2.9 million and “other” needs assistance of $357,285).- Public assistance obligations: $339,825.- U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loans: $668,100.- Total assistance: More than $4.2 million.

SOURCE: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The Atlantic hurricane made landfall Aug. 28 in Plaquemines Parish as a mild Category 1, based on the National Hurricane Center's Saffir-Simpson Scale, which takes into account wind speeds and not surge heights.

Isaac's maximum sustained winds regionally reached 80 mph, and coastal surges reached 15 feet in some areas, enough to force the Mississippi River to reverse course for 24 hours, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, pushing storm surge as far north as Baton Rouge.

It wasn't until Sept. 1 that residents of Lafourche Parish were deemed eligible to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's individual assistance program.

Hurricane victims in Terrebonne Parish had to wait another five days until FEMA allowed it in as well. But in between this time, 42 residents from Terrebonne and 23 from Lafourche checked into hotels using the agency's transition sheltering assistance program.

Along with other disaster-related expenses, the state and FEMA have so far spent $6 million in Lafourche and $4.2 million in Terrebonne.

Additionally, federal coordinating officer Gerard M. Stolar said more assistance will arrive with the future rollout of recovery programs designed to help residents over the long haul.

“Louisianians have made tremendous progress in their journey toward recovery from Hurricane Isaac,” Stolar said. “The efforts of the survivors themselves, combined with those of the whole recovery community, have made all the difference in Louisiana.”

In mid-September, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes were also included, in the amounts of $339,825 and $652,442 respectively, in supplemental FEMA funding known as public assistance obligations, often used for infrastructure repairs.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has also disbursed $1.6 million in disaster loans to Lafourche Parish businesses since Isaac made landfall, and another $668,100 in Terrebonne.

Separately, the FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $370 million on claims from policyholders in Louisiana.

Forty recovery centers were also created in the wake of the storm to serve survivors throughout Louisiana, and two centers remain open in the hardest-hit parishes.

On Sept. 4, a disaster recovery center opened in Matthews, and 498 people visited it before it closed Oct. 3.

There were two similar centers opened in Terrebonne Parish roughly a week later. Before the last one closed Oct. 30, 826 people had sought out its services.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard were called in Oct, 15 to begin removing barrels, drums and other potentially hazardous containers in both parishes.

The clean-up effort was funded by FEMA, which likewise bankrolled the individual assistance program, which has paid out more than $116 million in grants.

So far 8,130 residents in the Terrebonne-Lafourche region have registered for the individual assistance program, and more than $6.2 million in housing assistance has been distributed, said FEMA public information officer Jack Heesch.

The housing category provides cash payments for temporary housing, such as a hotel; home repair or replacement; and permanent or semi-permanent housing construction.

Local residents have received $784,452 for “other” needs, Heesch said.

“Other” assistance is made available for a variety of items from medical and dental expenses to funeral and burial expenses.

Heesch said registration activity has been heavier in Lafourche Parish, where 4,333 people have opted into the program and $3.3 million has been distributed for housing needs and $427,168 in the “other” category.

In Terrebonne Parish, there have been 3,797 registrations, $2.9 million in housing needs paid out and $357,284 for “other” needs provided.

The registration deadline is Nov. 29.

Terrebonne and Lafourche parish residents can still register for individual assistance or check the status of their registrations online at www.disasterassistance.gov. If you're using a smartphone exclusively, you'll need to go to m.fema.gov.

By phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. For those with 711 relay or video relay services, call 1-800-621-3362.

FEMA's phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Non-English speakers may receive assistance in the language of their choice by selecting “Option 3” when prompted.

To begin the registration process, all participants will need their Social Security number, a description of their loss, all applicable insurance information, directions to the property in question and a contact telephone number.

Additionally, all applicants will be given a number that should be recorded and kept in a safe place. The number will allow FEMA to keep track of your claim throughout the process.

<p>BATON ROUGE — Nearly three months since Hurricane Isaac struck Louisiana's coastline, more than $365 million in state and federal disaster assistance has been provided in 55 parishes. </p><p>The Atlantic hurricane made landfall Aug. 28 in Plaquemines Parish as a mild Category 1, based on the National Hurricane Center's Saffir-Simpson Scale, which takes into account wind speeds and not surge heights. </p><p>Isaac's maximum sustained winds regionally reached 80 mph, and coastal surges reached 15 feet in some areas, enough to force the Mississippi River to reverse course for 24 hours, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, pushing storm surge as far north as Baton Rouge. </p><p>It wasn't until Sept. 1 that residents of Lafourche Parish were deemed eligible to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's individual assistance program. </p><p>Hurricane victims in Terrebonne Parish had to wait another five days until FEMA allowed it in as well. But in between this time, 42 residents from Terrebonne and 23 from Lafourche checked into hotels using the agency's transition sheltering assistance program. </p><p>Along with other disaster-related expenses, the state and FEMA have so far spent $6 million in Lafourche and $4.2 million in Terrebonne. </p><p>Additionally, federal coordinating officer Gerard M. Stolar said more assistance will arrive with the future rollout of recovery programs designed to help residents over the long haul.</p><p>“Louisianians have made tremendous progress in their journey toward recovery from Hurricane Isaac,” Stolar said. “The efforts of the survivors themselves, combined with those of the whole recovery community, have made all the difference in Louisiana.” </p><p>In mid-September, Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes were also included, in the amounts of $339,825 and $652,442 respectively, in supplemental FEMA funding known as public assistance obligations, often used for infrastructure repairs.</p><p>The U.S. Small Business Administration has also disbursed $1.6 million in disaster loans to Lafourche Parish businesses since Isaac made landfall, and another $668,100 in Terrebonne. </p><p>Separately, the FEMA-administered National Flood Insurance Program has paid more than $370 million on claims from policyholders in Louisiana.</p><p>Forty recovery centers were also created in the wake of the storm to serve survivors throughout Louisiana, and two centers remain open in the hardest-hit parishes.</p><p>On Sept. 4, a disaster recovery center opened in Matthews, and 498 people visited it before it closed Oct. 3.</p><p>There were two similar centers opened in Terrebonne Parish roughly a week later. Before the last one closed Oct. 30, 826 people had sought out its services. </p><p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard were called in Oct, 15 to begin removing barrels, drums and other potentially hazardous containers in both parishes. </p><p>The clean-up effort was funded by FEMA, which likewise bankrolled the individual assistance program, which has paid out more than $116 million in grants. </p><p>So far 8,130 residents in the Terrebonne-Lafourche region have registered for the individual assistance program, and more than $6.2 million in housing assistance has been distributed, said FEMA public information officer Jack Heesch. </p><p>The housing category provides cash payments for temporary housing, such as a hotel; home repair or replacement; and permanent or semi-permanent housing construction.</p><p>Local residents have received $784,452 for “other” needs, Heesch said. </p><p>“Other” assistance is made available for a variety of items from medical and dental expenses to funeral and burial expenses.</p><p>Heesch said registration activity has been heavier in Lafourche Parish, where 4,333 people have opted into the program and $3.3 million has been distributed for housing needs and $427,168 in the “other” category. </p><p>In Terrebonne Parish, there have been 3,797 registrations, $2.9 million in housing needs paid out and $357,284 for “other” needs provided. </p><p>The registration deadline is Nov. 29. </p><p>Terrebonne and Lafourche parish residents can still register for individual assistance or check the status of their registrations online at www.disasterassistance.gov. If you're using a smartphone exclusively, you'll need to go to m.fema.gov. </p><p>By phone, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 1-800-462-7585. For those with 711 relay or video relay services, call 1-800-621-3362. </p><p>FEMA's phone lines operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Non-English speakers may receive assistance in the language of their choice by selecting “Option 3” when prompted.</p><p>To begin the registration process, all participants will need their Social Security number, a description of their loss, all applicable insurance information, directions to the property in question and a contact telephone number. </p><p>Additionally, all applicants will be given a number that should be recorded and kept in a safe place. The number will allow FEMA to keep track of your claim throughout the process. </p><p>Jeremy Alford can be reached at jeremy@jeremyalford.com.</p>